Site building · Website glossary

Session

Quick answer · What is Session?

A way an application associates a sequence of interactions with an ongoing user or client context.

IN PRACTICE

Session: an example

A store keeps a shopper's cart associated with their session across several page requests.

KEEP IN MIND

A session identifier is sensitive when it grants account context; session expiration and access controls need deliberate design.

Put the idea to work

Frequently asked questions

What is a practical example of Session?

A store keeps a shopper's cart associated with their session across several page requests.

Why should a session identifier be treated as sensitive?

A session identifier is sensitive when it grants account context; session expiration and access controls need deliberate design.

Which concepts should I read alongside Session?

Cookie: A small item of data a browser stores and sends with matching requests according to its attributes and browser rules.
Authentication: The process of checking that a person or system is who or what it claims to be.